Disability Awareness
CAOILINN KENNEDY
STUDENT SUPPORT OFFICER
UNIVERSITY OF LIMERICK
What Will We Achieve Today?
 Models of disability
 Awareness of disability legislation
 General knowledge of students with disabilities on
campus
 Knowledge of Disability Support Services
 Identify some accommodations we can make
Models of Disability
 Medical Model
 Victim
 Unwell
 Tragic
 Focus on impairment
 Dependent
Models of Disability
 Social Model
 Focus on environment
 Active citizenship
 Consumer
 Equal Rights
 Participation in society
Disability Legislation
 Disability Act 2005
 Employment Equality Act 1998 and 2004
 Equal Status Act 2000 and 2004
 Education for Persons with Special Educational
Needs Act 2004
University of Limerick Definition of Disability
 In the context of the University the term “People
with Disabilities” is used in the widest possible
sense. It includes people with impaired mobility,
those with partial or complete loss of sight or
hearing. Those with learning difficulties (e.g.
dyslexia). Those with hidden disabilities such as
mental health, epilepsy or Autism. It also includes a
wide range of other disabilities which require a
facility which is not part of the mainstream provision
of the University and without which students would
be educationally disadvantaged in comparison to
their peers.
Types of Disability
 Sensory- Blind/Visual impairment, Deaf/Hearing
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impairment
Physical- Cerebral palsy, Multiple sclerosis, Spina
Bifida, Spinal cord injury
Significant on-going Illness - Diabetes, Cystic
Fibrosis, Crohn's disease
Specific Learning Difficulties- Dyslexia
ADD/ADHD
Mental Health- Depression, Schizophrenia, Anxiety
Autism
UL Students with Disability (last year)
Disability
Number of Students
Autism
32
Blind
22
Deaf
16
Dyspraxia
28
Mental Health
27
Multiple
5
Neurological
20
Physical
40
Significant on-going illness
79
SpLD
265
ADD/ADHD
18
Disability Services
 Over 600 students registered
 Disability Officer

Brenda Shinners- Kennedy
 Administrator

Michelle Hartnett
 Assistive Technology


Thomas O Shaughnessy
Conor Hartigan
 Alternative Format

Peter Dooley
 Student Support

Caoilinn Kennedy
Disability Services
 Students are given several opportunities to disclose a
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disability.
Most students disclose at entry.
Students can register with Disability Support
Services at any point throughout the academic year.
Needs Assessment is carried out
Information about new students is disseminated to
academic departments all year around.
DSS do not make diagnosis
Reasonable Accommodations
 The Equal Status Act 2004 requires the University to
reasonably accommodate students with disabilities
by providing special treatment or facilities so that it
is not impossible or unduly difficult for students to
avail of services provided within the University.
Supports Available
 Nature of disability
 Sign language interpreter
 Assistive technology
 Personal assistant
 Exam accommodations
 Mentor
 Meeting with Occupational Therapist
Engagement
 Engagement for students with disabilities has arisen
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as an issue
Language
Communicate directly
Treat adults as adults
Be patient if someone has a speech difficulty
Never pretend to understand
Engagement
 Don’t be nervous to ask someone to repeat
themselves.
 Don’t mention the person’s disability unless it is
relevant.
 Ask what the person may need.
 Take some initiative